Anand Giridharadas

The face of a talented writer and teller of perceptive cultural, social tales. Giridharadas'  writing does more than anything I've come across recently to convey the nuances of modern, global life.  His books, while not easy or pleasant reads, are worth anyone's time and emotional energy.  They've instilled in me as much compassion for the struggles of others as has years of meditation.  

I first encountered Giridharadas' writing in preparation for a trip to India, when I picked up India Calling.

 It's an eye-opening, perception changing look at modern India, globalization, and a developing world's desire for, and headlong rush into, modernization.  Giridharadas', on the ground, up close and personal look at such hot-button issues challenges liberal notions.  It's far too easy for those of us in wealthy countries, already enjoying the positive and negative effects of globalization, to tsk tsk about other countries' eagerly, and "mistakenly," seeking what we so blithely want to throw away or longingly wish to roll back.  Such views strike me as another version of Colonial-era paternalism.  Who are we to thwart another country's path to self-determination?  And, yes, I acknowledge that multinational corporations and corrupt world financing schemes complicate the issue.  There will always be a boogeyman available to give people leave to dictate another's choices.

Now, Giridharadas has turned his attention to the collision of the 'other' and us in his new book, The True American.  This one especially hits home as it recounts events that took place in the Dallas area shortly after 9/11. And, in the oddest of synchronicities, as I was reading the Waco Trib's article about our county prosecutor's successful death row conviction rate, I learned that he's the same prosecutor who secured the death penalty for the man profiled in Giridharadas' new book.  Globalization comes full circle.

Once again, Giridharadas provides a deeply researched, highly nuanced look at all of the actors involved in the tragedy he recounts.  There are no easy bad guys or good guys, only sad, bewildered human beings suffering a "collision of perspectives."  Giridharadas' books are some of the few that I can say have changed me.  Read him if you dare.  The perceptions that collide may just be your own.